Dispenser for a continuous strip



April 1970 N. A. LEIBREICH 3,507,428

DISPENSER FOR A CONTINUOUS STRIP Filed March 18, 1968 FIGURE FIGURE 2 INVENTOR NORMAN A. LEIBREICH 8) United States Patent 3,507,428 DISPENSER FOR A CONTINUOUS STRIP Norman A. Leibreich, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The l(\)/Ihe ad Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Filed Mar. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 713,588 Int. Cl. 1326f 3/02; B65h 35/00 US. Cl. 22511 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrically operated dispenser which functions in a semiautomatic mode to provide individual sheets of flexible material. The sheets are manually cut from a continuous rolled strip by tearing the strip end across a returnably moveable cutting blade. Response of the blade to the tearing action commences a dispensing cycle which terminates automatically when a predetermined length of material has advanced over the cutting blade.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing sheets of flexible material. It relates more specifically to a dispenser wherein a continuous strip of material is dispensed in predetermined amount for cutting by manual action; the cutting operation producing the desired sheet of material and simultaneously initiating the automatic dispensing of replacement material. Further, and in particular embodiment thereof, it relates to a simple electrically operated dispenser provided with a start-and-stop switching arrangement actuated by pulling an exposed length of strip material against a moveable cutting blade.

The invention was conceived in response to problems observed in the brick packaging industry. In that trade it is common practice to package brick in banded stacks with sheets of paper between layers. Handling of such a product requires that the workers wear heavy gloves. As a result thereof it is diflicult to grasp individual sheets of separation paper for transferrance from a supply stack to a brick package. It was desirable, therefore, than an apparatus be developed for semiautomatic dispensing of individual sheets of flexible material. It was desirable that the sheets be of regulated size, easily grasped, and dispensed only after being firmly gripped by the worker. It will be observed, however, that an apparatus meeting such requirements is not limited in applicability to packaging operations. Such a dispenser has utility in any activity wherein are employed individual sheets of flexible material.

SUMMARY This invention solves the foregoing problems by providing novel means whereby a continuous rolled strip is dispensed in predetermined amount for tearing by manual action. The apparatus of this invention includes support means for the continuous rolled strip, electrically operated drive means, and a returnably moveable cutting blade. The blade responds to a manual tearing action by actuating a start switch thereby activating the drive means and commencing a dispensing cycle. The dispensing cycle is terminated automatically after a predetermined length of material has advanced over the cutting blade. This provides a regulated length, easily grasped portion for tearing off and useage as the next sheet. A novel switching and roll driving arrangement are provided for performing the above functions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of the dispenser support frame and primary structural elements.

3,507,428 Patented Apr. 21, 1970 FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the operative relationship of the various functional elements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The preferred embodiment of my invention employs structure as pictorially illustrated in FIG. 1 and operates as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 2. The dispenser comprises a support frame 2, a supply roll 3, a guide roll 4, a drive roll 5 and a backing roll 6. For clarity of illustration, FIG. 1 omits the supporting bearings for these rolls.

As shown in FIG. 2, backing roll 6 is pressed against drive roll 5 by springs 7 which bear against guide roll support arms 8 forcing backing roll support arms 9 downwardly about pivot pins 10.

Motive power is supplied by electric motor 11 which drives sprocket wheel 12 and chain 13. Chain 13 in turn drives sprocket wheel 14 which is mounted at the end of drive roll 5. Motor 11 is energized by a rotatable cutting blade 15 and deenergized by chain dog 17 as will be explained subsequently.

The operating cycle commences with a continuous strip of material 19 mounted on supply roll 3 and threaded as shown in FIG. 1. A length of material as required for the packaging operation extends out beyond the edge of blade 15. The operator starts the dispensing cycle by manually tearing the material down across blade 15. The cutting action forces the blade downward tripping a start switch.

The start switch, as indicated generally in FIG. 2 by the numeral 16 is normally open and is closed by the aforesaid cutting action. Closing switch 16 completes the circuit to motor 11 and also activates a latching device shown in FIG. 2 simply as a series wired electromagnet 20.

Upon completion of the tearing action, blade 15 returns to its normal position but switch 16 remains closed maintaining power to motor 11. This results in a continuous dispensing operation driven by motor 11 operating through the sprocket and chain assembly described above. As chain 13 makes its revolution it carries with it dog 17. The system continues to dispense material until dog 17 opens switch 18. As schematically illustrated in FIG. 2, switch 18 is normally closed but is momentarily opened by contact of dog 17 against pin 21. This breaks the circuit to both motor 11 and electromagnet 20. Switch 16 then opens, but chain 13 does not yet stop. System inertia continues to carry the chain a short distance moving dog 17 past pin 21 permitting switch 18 to regain its normally closed position. However, the circuit remains interrupted because the momentary opening of switch 18 has released switch 16 to its normally open position. The system is now ready to respond to another cutting action.

It will be observed that the length of strip dispensed during each cycle is regulated by the length of chain 13. In the preferred embodiment there is used a chain which has removable links. This permits changing the portion dispensed by simply adding or removing links. Sprocket wheel 12 may be adusted to accommodate variations in chain length.

Although a preferred embodiment has been shown, it should be understood that there are many possible variations of the invention. For instance it would be practical to make a direct measurement of the length of material dispensed and to use this measurement for tripping the stop switch. As another alternative, the circuit of FIG. 2 could be replaced by a pair of 3-way switches; one functioning with blade 15 as a start switch and the other functioning with dog 17 as a stop switch.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

1. Dispensing apparatus comprising:

means for rotatably supporting a rolled continuous strip,

a cutting blade for manual severance of the continuous strip, said blade being mounted for returnably moveable response to a manual cutting action,

an electrically operated drive chain provided with a projection and operative to advance the continuous strip in predetermined length from the supporting means to the cutting blade,

a start switch actuated by movement of the cutting blade to activate the drive chain, and

a stop switch actuated by contact with said drive chain projection to deactivate the drive chain at the end of the drive chain operating cycle and thereby regulate the length of strip dispensed.

2. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 said drive chain comprising removable links for adjusting the length to which the dispensed strip is regulated.

3. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising a drive roll driven by the electrically operated drive means, a backing roll cooperating with the drive roll to pull the continuous strip from its rotatable support means, and a rotatably mounted pair of spring supported backing roll support arms for urging the backing roll against the drive roll.

4. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, said start switch being normally open but provided with means for holding a closed condition upon actuation, and said stop switch being normally closed and operative upon temporary opening by said drive chain projection to reset the start switch to its normally open position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,275,410 3/1942 Anderson et a1. 225-11 2,748,861 6/1956 Von Stoeser 83203 3,172,322. 3/1965 Hirschey 226152 X 3,305,938 2/1967 Goldstein 225-10 X FRANK T. YOST, Primary Examiner U .5. Cl. X.R. 

